One Dead, Five Others Injured In Fiery West Windsor Crash On Route 1

May 30, 2023

WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–West Windsor Police say that at 4:21 a.m., WWPD Communications detailed Patrol Units to a Serious Motor Vehicle Crash on US Route 1 North at Washington Road.  Upon Patrol’s arrival, they immediately began to render first aid to the occupants of both two vehicles.  Vehicle #1 (2011 Honda Accord), which was embedded into trees in the AT&T parking lot, had been occupied by five people and was on fire.  Two of the occupants were still entrapped inside of the burning car.  Vehicle #2 (2023 Kia Sorrento) was found within the Penns Neck Circle disabled from the crash and sustained unknown injuries.  Police Officers worked valiantly to free the remaining occupants of the Honda Accord.  Princeton Junction Fire Company, West Windsor Fire Company, and West Windsor Emergency Services worked in unison to extinguish the raging fire and assist the injured parties.  In addition, Princeton Fire Department, Plainsboro EMS #100, Lawrence EMS #129, Princeton EMS #168, Trenton EMS (TEMS), and Capital Health Medics arrived on scene.  Ultimately, the remaining occupants were removed from Honda Accord.  The front seat passenger of the Accord sustained life threatening injuries and all lifesaving efforts were being employed.  The four other occupants, including the driver of Vehicle #1 and Driver #2 all sustained injuries which were later considered non-life threatening.  All six of the injured were transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center for treatment.  The front seat passenger of Honda Accord succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.  Police say that no identities are being released at this time.  

The initial investigation at the scene revealed the following: A 2011 Honda Accord was traveling east bound on Washington Road at the Penns Neck Circle (with US Route 1).  2023 Kia Sorrento was traveling north bound on US Route 1 North.  The Honda Accord attempted to cross all lanes of US Route 1 North & South.  The Honda Accord collided with Kia Sorrento in the US Route 1 North lanes.  The Honda continued off of the roadway where it struck a traffic light stanchion and a street sign on the grass median (for Washington Road).  The Honda continued in a northeasterly direction, reentered the roadway, entered into the AT&T parking lot where it struck numerous trees at the back portion of the lot, and came to its final resting place on fire.  The Kia Sorrento continued in a northeasterly direction and came to its final resting place facing east in the Penns Neck Circle off of US Route 1 North. 

 Washington Road between US Route 1 North and Fairview Avenue was closed for approximately (5) hours.  US Route 1 traffic was delayed in the area for the same duration.  The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Serious Collision Response Team (MCPO SCRT) responded to the scene to assist with the ongoing investigation.  If anyone has any pertinent information to share into this collision, please contact Traffic Officer E. McQuade #97 at (609) 799-1222, our Anonymous Tipline at (609) 799-0452, or McQuade@westwindsorpolice.com.

Driver #1:  Resident of Somerset, NJ 
  Passenger of Vehicle #1:  Resident of  Somerset, NJ *DECEASED*
  Passenger of Vehicle #1:  Resident of Somerset, NJ 
  Passenger of Vehicle #1:  Resident of Somerset, NJ 
  Passenger of Vehicle #1:  Resident of New Brunswick, NJ 

Driver #2:  Resident of Ewing, NJ